Device for the disposal, recovery and recycling of pharmaceuticals from human wastes

ABSTRACT

A method for removing pharmaceutical agents from human wastes. Such pharmaceuticals may include their metabolized byproducts, either or both of which may be harmful as a toxin or a carcinogen. The method generally includes the use of a portable human waste containment unit which is configured to serve as a toilet for an individual who has been treated with a pharmaceutical agent. The waste containment unit is preferably configured as a self-contained unit with a separate removable reservoir or plastic reservoir liner, such that it is capable of being sealed for transporting to a facility where human wastes contained within the waste containment unit or its separate reservoir or liner can be appropriately processed. An outer, upper surface of the waste containment unit forms a seat equipped with a cover for sealing the waste containment unit. The waste containment unit includes a reservoir whose capacity is preferably sufficient to hold human waste produced over approximately a period in which pharmaceuticals and their metabolized byproducts are typically eliminated from the body of an individual. The waste containment unit will be of different configurations to fit the patients&#39; needs in the hospital, in the home, and for use while the patient is mobile and being treated as an outpatient. The purpose of the different types of waste containment units is to interdict the pharmaceuticals before they enter the eco-system through a municipal sewage system or a septic tank system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to methods for theremoval of pharmaceutical agents from human waste that is completelysegregated from all other types of waste matter. More specifically, thisinvention relates to a method in which a permanent or portable device isprovided to be used by individuals who have been treated withpharmaceutical agents, which if released into the environment could posean environmental hazard. The portable device is configured for two typesof toilet facilities. One type can be transported and used daily byoutpatients and patients recovering at home. Another type of unit isremovably installed semi-portably in a hospital facility to allowisolation of a patient's waste from the sewage system and, thus, fromthe ecosystem. Thereafter the waste as an isolated unit is transportedto a facility where the pharmaceuticals can be harvested, isolated andthen either disposed of or recycled.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In response to ecological considerations, the proper treatmentand disposal of waste materials have become increasingly of concern.Much interest has been directed toward solid waste management, withrecent emphasis on the exclusion of toxic materials from landfills. Acounterpart to solid waste management is the treatment of human wastes.Sewage treatment plants have long been used to purify sewage through theactivity of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria which digest sewage. Thebacteria convert the sewage into a sludge which, when filtered anddried, can be used as a fertilizer base.

[0005] While such techniques serve their purpose well, the processesinvolved generally do not have any effect on pharmaceutical wastesexpelled into the ecosystem from the patient and those pharmaceuticalsare toxic to all when present in the sewage system. No regard has beengiven to pharmaceutical wastes present in homes which rely on septictank systems. Generally, and as used herein, pharmaceutical wastes arepharmaceutical agents and their metabolized byproducts which areexcreted by individuals being treated with such agents. An example ofthe toxic oncology drugs secreted in human waste and the length of timefor their excretion is illustrated in the following chart. A PartialList of the Toxic Oncology Drugs Secreted In Human Waste And the Lengthof Time of Time for Their Excretion Bleomycin excreted in urine 72 hrs.50% in 1^(st) day Busulfan excreted in urine 12-24 hrs. Carboplatinexcreted in urine 24 to 48 hrs. Carmustine excreted in the urine over 96hrs. Chlorambucil excreted in urine in 48 hrs. Cistplatin excreted inurine in 7 days Citrate excreted in feces and urine Chlorambucilexcreted mostly in urine 60% in 24 hrs. Cyclophosphamide excreted inurine 72 hours (i.v.) Cytarabine excreted in the urine within 1^(st) dayhydrochioride Dacarbazine excreted in the urine 30-46% within 6 hrs.Dactinomycin excreted in urine in 5 days 20% in first 24 hrs.Daunorubicin excreted in feces 7 days 48 hrs. in urine Doxorubicinexcreted in feces 7 days urine 6 days Epirubicin Hydo excreted in urine7 days and feces 5 days Etoposide excreted in urine in 4 days feces in 7days Fluorouracil excreted in urine in 48 hrs. Floxuridine excreted inthe urine Hydrochloride 60% excreted in urine 40% in feces Hydroxyureaexcreted in urine Ifosfamide excreted in urine 48 hrs. Limustineexcreted principally in the urine Mechlorethamine excreted in urine in48 hrs. hydrochloride Megestrol Acetate excreted in urine 57-78%Melphalan excreted in urine 48 hrs. Mercaptopurine excreted in urine in72 hrs. Methotrexate excreted in the urine 72 hrs. Mitomycin excreted inurine first day Mitoxantrone excreted in urine Hydrochloride Plicamycinexcreted in urine 40% in 15 hrs. Streptozocin excreted principally inurine Tamoxifen research not completed Thiotepa excreted in urine in 72hrs. Thioguanine excreted in urine in 72 hrs. Vincristine sulfateexcreted in urine 4 days Vinblastine Sulfate excreted in urine 4 days

[0006] Often, the agents and/or their metabolized byproducts arecarcinogenic, particularly those pharmaceuticals used in oncologicaltreatments and chemotherapy, and therefore pose a toxic hazard risk.Consequently, sewage treatment plants and septic systems typicallygenerate some level of carcinogens, which are released into theenvironment as a byproduct of sewage treatment plants and septicsystems.

[0007] The hazards of such carcinogenic wastes have been recognized, andin response hospitals employ appropriate waste disposal techniques formedical devices such as syringes, clothing, pharmaceutical containersand mixing equipment, and for unused medicinal portions, but no thoughthas been given to their patients who have been treated withpharmaceuticals whose human metabolic waste could pose a hazard to theenvironment. Moreover, patients are often released from the hospitalwhile therapeutic drug levels are still in their bodies, or are treatedon an outpatient basis. As such, any harmful pharmaceuticals withintheir systems may or may not be eliminated within the controlledenvironment of the hospital, but will generally be eliminated elsewherefor up to about three days, such that the pharmaceuticals are againreleased directly into a municipal sewage system or septic system.

[0008] Various approaches to isolating constituents of human waste havebeen proposed in the past, though none have been addressed to solvingthe problem outlined above. Moreover, the devices taught for isolatinghuman waste constituents have not been adapted or suitable for use bypatients on an individual basis. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,077to Braxton teaches a portable public toilet which is equipped with afiltering device disposed in the drain conduit of a urinal bowl. Thefiltering device serves to collect pharmaceutically useful traceelements within urine which passes through the filtering device. Whilewell conceived for its purpose, the large portable toilet taught byBraxton is impractical for use by individual patients over a briefperiod after treatment and after release from the hospital. Furthermore,the portable toilet is only directed to isolating certain trace elementsfrom urine.

[0009] Current disposal and contamination prevention procedures do nottake into account the hazards of burning toxic medical wastes thatcontain remnants of toxic pharmaceuticals. The burning procedure simplychanges the pollution from a water borne pollutant via the sewagetreatment system to an airborne pollutant via current incinerationprocedures. Most approved incinerators today cannot effectively orsafely destroy the toxic drugs by burning.

[0010] From the above, it can be appreciated that the prior art islacking a method for preventing the release of potentially hazardouspharmaceuticals into municipal sewage systems by patients who haveundergone treatment with such pharmaceuticals. Accordingly, what isneeded is a reliable and sanitary method by which human wastes can becollected, to isolate, remove and treat toxic components in a costefficient manner, such that the pharmaceuticals can be properlydisposed, recovered or recycled. Ideally, such a method would enablesuch pharmaceuticals to be reclaimed and recycled when possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to the present invention there is provided a method forcollecting, segregating by type, and removing pharmaceutical agentsintroduced into the human body for medical treatment of patients fromhuman wastes. Such pharmaceuticals may include their metabolizedbyproducts, either or both of which may be harmful as a toxin or acarcinogen. The method generally includes the use of a portable humanwaste containment unit (WCU) or permanent unit configured to adapt to astandard toilet and removably attached thereto which serves as a toiletfor an individual who has been treated with a pharmaceutical agent. Thepermanent unit is identical to the portable unit but designed to customfit existing toilet facilities and be equipped with a removable wastecontainment suction that is removed on a regular basis. The removableportion would include any part of the unit that comes into contact withthe patient's body or waste.

[0012] The unit can be removably fixed to a standard toilet or portableand has specialized components made from easily destroyed or replaceablematerials that come into contact with the patient's body. This is toallow for the destruction or disinfecting of the toxic drugs that areeliminated by the patient through the normal process of perspiration.

[0013] The waste containment unit is preferably configured as aself-contained unit, such that it is capable of being sealed fortransporting as a unit to a facility where human wastes accumulatedwithin the waste containment unit can be appropriately processed. Anouter, upper surface of the waste containment unit forms a seat equippedwith a cover for sealing the waste containment unit. The wastecontainment unit includes a reservoir whose capacity is preferablysufficient to hold human waste produced over approximately a seven dayperiod, such that the reservoir has a capacity for use during a periodin which pharmaceuticals and their metabolized byproducts are typicallyeliminated from the body of an individual.

[0014] This new technology requires the complete segregation of thepatient's bodily wastes and is not limited to urine and feces as it mustcontain the specific provision that all parts of the sanitation unitthat come in contact with the patient must be disinfected or replacedand destroyed in an approved manner. The patient can expel the toxicdrugs through their normal function of perspiration.

[0015] This device is the only waste abatement process that is in placein the hospital and in the patient's home. This device is customized foreach patient to be utilized in the hospital and home and is structuredto prevent combining of different types of pharmaceuticals which maycause a greater pollution hazard.

[0016] As such, the waste containment unit of this invention enables amethod by which human wastes containing pharmaceutical agents and theirmetabolized byproducts can be collected by a patient both while in thehospital and while away from the hospital. As noted above, both wastecontainment units are configured with a seat, allowing the patient tosit on the waste containment unit and void into the waste containmentunit. Because the preferred waste containment unit of this invention isportable, the patient is capable of using it at home or any otherlocation which is convenient for its use.

[0017] Thereafter, the waste reservoir compartment of the wastecontainment unit can be sealed and transported to a suitable facility,where the pharmaceutical agents can be removed from the human wastes.The wastes can then be processed with bacteria or incinerated in aconventional manner known in the art as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,168,316 to Webster, Jr. et al.; 4,359,415 to Sloane; 4,452,987 toBonifacio; 4,479,937 to Said et al; and 4,944,884 to Naoi; as well asother conventional processes well known in the art and incorporatedherein by reference. In contrast, the pharmaceutical agent or agents canbe recycled, if possible, or otherwise properly disposed of in anappropriate manner. Any metabolized byproducts of the pharmaceuticalagent can also be removed and recycled or disposed of in a manner knownin the art.

[0018] In view of the above, it can be seen that a significant advantageof the present invention is that a method is provided by which harmfulpharmaceutical agents and their metabolized byproducts can be preventedfrom entering a municipal sewage treatment plant or septic system. Theharmful pharmaceutical agents and their metabolized byproducts are nowentering the environment as airborne or ground pollutants when thedelivery instruments such as syringes are destroyed by burning ordumping in landfills. The invention will allow a safe place in which toclear out the syringes or IV instruments to further prevent the toxicdrugs from entering the ecosystem. As such, a source of toxic andcarcinogenic matter is prevented from being eventually released into theenvironment. The benefits of this invention are particularly significantfor large urban areas where relatively high levels of pharmaceuticalsmay be present in the municipal sewage.

[0019] Another advantage of this invention is that some pharmaceuticalscan be reclaimed, and thereafter returned to a pharmaceutical companyfor purification and reuse. As such, the method of this inventionprovides a potentially economical source for certain pharmaceuticals. Aparticularly useful scenario for the implementation of this invention isfor patients undergoing chemotherapy or other medical therapy, in whichpatients are subjected to treatment with toxic pharmaceuticals.

[0020] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea method by which pharmaceutical agents can be prevented from enteringthe environment by isolating and removing the agents from human wastes.

[0021] It is a further object of the invention that the method entailthe use of a removably permanent or portable waste containment unitwhich is configured as a self-contained unit for use by an individual.

[0022] It is still a further object of the invention that the wastecontainment unit be provided with a seat formed on one surface thereof,so as to permit an individual to sit on the waste containment unit whilevoiding into the waste containment unit.

[0023] It is another object of the invention that the portable wastecontainment unit be constructed in a manner that allows the propersterilization or disposal of all parts and materials touched by eitherthe patient or the patient's wastes, such as the seat, lid and the wastereceptacle.

[0024] It is yet another object of the invention that the wastecontainment unit be configured to accommodate human wastes produced overa period in which pharmaceuticals and their metabolized byproducts areeliminated from the body of the user (see chart hereinabove).

[0025] It is yet another object of the invention that the method enablepharmaceuticals to be reclaimed, and thereafter returned to apharmaceutical company for purification and reuse.

[0026] Other objects and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent after a reading of the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the drawings provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable toilet for use in themethod of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] The present invention provides a method by which pharmaceuticalagents and/or their metabolized byproducts can be isolated and removedfrom human wastes, so as to prevent such components from entering asewage treatment plant where they would eventually be released into theenvironment. The invention also serves as a reservoir for the residuefrom the cleaning of the delivery instruments such as syringes or IVbags or tubes. The toxic drugs in such delivery instruments are nowentering the environment as air or ground pollutants when these deliverydevices are burned or buried. As such, pharmaceuticals and theirmetabolized byproducts that are harmful as toxins or carcinogens areprevented from being released into the environment, where they wouldpose an environmental and health hazard.

[0029] The total waste by product would be liquefied in a controlledclosed environment and would be lyophilized into a dry powder and sortedby pharmaceutical brand or type. At all times no name identificationrecord would exist. The lyophilized powder is reconstituted in a sterilesolution. The toxic pharmaceutical is thereafter separated from thesterile slurry in the same manner that the original manufacturerpurified the drug for the initial regulatory approval. Thepharmaceutical disposal procedure and disposal of the clean up residuefollows the same methodology as that of the original manufacturer.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a portable human wastereceptacle 10 which constitutes a key feature of this invention. Thereceptacle 10 is configured to serve as a portable toilet for anindividual who has been treated with a pharmaceutical that, due to itstoxicity, would be hazardous if released into the environment. Thefollowing description will specifically refer to the receptacle 10 shownin FIG. 1, though it will be apparent that the receptacle 10 could beconsiderably altered in its appearance, and yet be configured tofunction in the manner intended by this invention.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle 10 is configured as aself-contained unit, meaning that the receptacle 10 is capable of beingsealed for transporting as a unit to a facility where human wasteswithin the receptacle 10 can be appropriately processed. The receptacle10 is generally composed of a tank 12 having an upper surface 14 whichis sufficiently large to enable its use as a seat. The tank 12 ispreferably formed from a suitably strong plastic material which is stainresistant and can be readily cleaned for reuse. Ideally, the exterior ofthe receptacle 10 is manufactured to conceal its function.

[0032] The tank 12 forms an internal reservoir whose capacity ispreferably sufficient to hold human waste produced over approximately athree day period, which is generally the period over whichpharmaceuticals and their metabolized byproducts are typicallyeliminated from the body of an individual. Optionally, the portable unitmay also contain a heavy, leak-proof plastic liner which can be sealedand utilized to transport the waste material safely to a facility atwhich the contents can be removed and processed. Optionally, thereservoir or the liner may also contain a solution which neutralizes theodor of the waste material without affecting the ability to isolatepharmaceutical agents in the material.

[0033] A seat 16 is formed on the upper surface 14 of the receptacle 12and surrounds an opening 18 into the reservoir. The seat 16 may beintegrally formed with the tank 12, or formed as a separate componentwhich is bonded or adhered to the tank 12. The seat 16 may be equippedwith a hinged cover 20 which is configured to sealingly close theopening 18, such that the receptacle 10 can be sealed and transportedsafely to a facility at which the contents of the tank 12 can be removedand processed. The cover 20 may also be preferably equipped with a lock(not shown) so as to secure the cover 20 and to prevent accidental andintentional tampering with the human wastes contained within the tank12. Furthermore as shown, the tank 12 preferably includes an integrallymolded handle 22 to facilitate transport of the waste receptacle 10,however, any other suitable handle may be employed as will be apparentto those skilled in the art.

[0034] The above-described receptacle 10 enables the method of thisinvention, by which human wastes containing pharmaceutical agents andtheir metabolized byproducts can be collected by the patient. Becausethe receptacle 10 is equipped with a seat 16, the patient is able to sitdirectly on the upper surface 14 of the waste receptacle and void intothe receptacle 10 through the opening 18. The portability of thereceptacle 10 renders it highly suitable as a unit which can be providedto patients on a short term basis both during their treatment in thehospital and after their treatment and/or release from the hospital.

[0035] Therefore, in use the receptacle 10 is employed for several days,typically three days after the last treatment with a pharmaceutical ofconcern. Optionally, at the end of the required duration, the receptacle10 is sealed by closing the cover 20. However, it is possible that atthe end of the date or the specific duration, the plastic liner isremoved and sealed to prevent contamination of and tampering with itscontents. As noted previously, the cover 20 is preferably locked inplace so as to prevent contamination of and tampering with its contents.The patient or a qualified courier then transports the receptacle 10 orthe sealed liner to a suitable facility where the pharmaceutical agentand/or its metabolized byproducts are isolated and removed from thehuman wastes. It is anticipated that the sealed liner of the portablereceptacle 10 would be provided with identification means so as to becapable of notifying the processing facility of the pharmaceuticalswhich are present in the waste material. Optionally, this informationmay be coded in a manner which protects the identity of the patient.

[0036] The appropriate processing technique required to isolate a givenagent is dependent on the type of pharmaceutical in question. Suitabletechniques for the isolation and removal of numerous pharmaceuticals areknown to those skilled in the art. Such pharmaceutical agents may becapable of being reclaimed and recycled, in order to allow the agents tobe reprocessed into a usable form. Harmful metabolized byproducts ofpharmaceutical agents may also be removed and then recycled or disposedof in a manner known in the art. After removal of the agent and itsbyproducts, the remaining human waste can be processed with bacteria ina conventional manner known in the art.

[0037] Current disposal and contamination prevention procedures do nottake into account the hazards of burning toxic medical wastes thatcontain remnants of toxic pharmaceuticals. The burning procedure simplychanges the pollution from a water borne pollutant via the sewagetreatment system to an airborne pollutant via current incinerationprocedures. Most approved incinerators today cannot effectively orsafely destroy the toxic drugs by burning.

[0038] When adequate processing techniques are not available, the entirecontents of the sealed liner or the receptacle 10 may be disposed of ordestroyed in a manner permitted by applicable regulations which preventthe pharmaceuticals of concern from being released into the environment.

[0039] In view of the above, it can be seen that a significant advantageof the present invention is that a method is provided by which harmfulpharmaceutical agents and their metabolized byproducts can be preventedfrom entering the environment. The current handling of thosecontaminants allows the contaminants to enter the environment as water,air and/or ground pollutants while the great bulk of the toxicpharmaceuticals expelled into the environment through patient wasteelimination are ignored. Due to the prevalent occurrence of bothin-hospital and outpatient treatment, it is believed that the method ofthis invention may prevent the bulk of toxic drugs used in the treatmentof various human afflictions from entering the ecosystem throughmunicipal sewage treatment plants. As a result, the safety of suchtreatment plants can be significantly improved, as well as the safety ofthe byproducts of such plants.

[0040] Another advantage of this invention is that use of the receptacle10 enables a method by which hazardous pharmaceuticals and theirmetabolized byproducts can be separated from human wastes at anappropriate facility. By providing proper identification of thetreatment that a patient has undergone, the pharmaceuticals andbyproducts present in the human waste can be identified, and potentiallyisolated and removed from the waste. The pharmaceuticals and theirbyproducts can then be properly disposed of or destroyed, as may berequired by applicable regulations, while the remaining waste can betreated using conventional sewage processing techniques.

[0041] Finally, another advantage of this invention is that somepharmaceuticals can be reclaimed by known and appropriate techniques,and thereafter returned to a pharmaceutical company for purification andreuse. As such, the method of this invention provides a potentiallyeconomical source for certain pharmaceuticals. One foreseeableapplication is the reclamation of toxic pharmaceuticals used in thetreatment of patients undergoing chemotherapy.

[0042] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method forcollecting, separating and either safely disposing or recycling toxicpharmaceutical waste material. The specialized portable waste receptacle10 of this invention is equipped with a small reservoir with or withouta sealed plastic liner into which a patient undergoing a toxic treatmentcan void for purposes of collecting all human wastes which contain thepharmaceutical and its metabolized byproducts. The receptacle 10 or thesealed liner can then be delivered to an appropriate facility where thecontents of the receptacle 10 or the sealed liner are safely destroyed,or preferably, the toxic substances are isolated and removed forappropriate destruction or recycling.

[0043] While the invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by oneskilled in the art. For example, the appearance and construction of thereceptacle 10 could be modified from that shown in the figure.Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for isolating pharmaceutical agents fromhuman wastes, said method comprising the steps of: providing a portablewaste receptacle which is configured to serve as a toilet for anindividual who has been treated with a pharmaceutical agent, saidportable waste receptacle being further configured as a self-containedunit which is capable of being sealed for transport of human wastes to afacility; accumulating human wastes in said portable waste containmentunit, said human wastes containing said pharmaceutical agent andmetabolized byproducts thereof; transporting said portable wastereceptacle and said human wastes contained therein to said facility; andremoving said pharmaceutical agent from said human wastes.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein said providing step includes forming said portablewaste containment unit to have a reservoir and an outer surface, saidouter surface having a seat formed therein and a cover attached theretofor sealing said portable waste containment unit.
 3. The method of claim1 wherein said providing step includes forming said portable wastecontainment unit to have a handle attached thereto.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said accumulating step comprises said individual sittingon said portable waste containment unit and voiding into said portablewaste containment unit.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising thestep of disposing of said human wastes after said removing step.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising the step of recycling saidpharmaceutical agent after said removing step.
 7. The method of claim 1further comprising the step of disposing of said pharmaceutical agentafter said removing step.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein saidpharmaceutical agent is toxic or carcinogenic.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein said metabolized byproducts are toxic or carcinogenic.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said removing step includes removing saidmetabolized byproducts from said human wastes.
 11. A method forisolating pharmaceutical agents from human wastes, said methodcomprising the steps of: providing a portable waste containment unitwhich is configured to serve as a toilet for an individual who has beentreated with a pharmaceutical agent, said portable waste containmentunit being further configured as a self-contained unit which is capableof being sealed for transport of human wastes to a facility, saidportable waste containment unit having a reservoir or a reservoir linerand an outer surface, said outer surface having a seat formed thereinand a cover attached thereto for sealing said portable waste containmentunit; accumulating human wastes in said portable waste containment unitby said individual sitting on said portable waste containment unit andvoiding into said portable waste containment unit, said human wastescontaining said pharmaceutical agent and metabolized byproducts thereof;transporting said portable waste containment unit waste reservoir orsealed liner and said human wastes contained therein to said facility;and removing said pharmaceutical agent and said metabolized byproductsfrom said human wastes.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein saidproviding step includes forming said portable waste containment unit tohave a handle attached thereto.
 13. The method of claim 1I furthercomprising the step of disposing of said human wastes after saidremoving step.
 14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step ofrecycling said pharmaceutical agent after said removing step.
 15. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising the step of disposing of saidpharmaceutical agent after said removing step.
 16. The method of claim11 wherein said pharmaceutical agent is toxic or carcinogenic.
 17. Themethod of claim 11 wherein said metabolized byproducts are toxic orcarcinogenic.
 18. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step ofencoding said sealed liner or said portable waste containment unit andits removable waste reservoir so as to identify said pharmaceuticalagent with which said individual has been treated.
 19. A portable wastecontainment unit with its removable reservoir for accumulating humanwastes for the purpose of isolating pharmaceutical agents from saidhuman wastes, said portable waste containment unit comprising: aself-contained unit forming a reservoir with or without a sealable lineradapted to receive said human wastes and transport said human wastes toa facility, said portable waste containment unit having an outer surfaceformed thereon, said outer surface having a seat formed therein and acover attached thereto for sealing said self-contained unit.
 20. Theportable waste containment unit of claim 19 further comprising a handleattached to said self-contained unit.